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Paulino facing recovery from shoulder surgery

Paulino facing recovery from shoulder surgery

6/1/12: Felipe Paulino strikes out five and scatters three hits over six shutout frames to earn his third victory of the year

By Dick Kaegel
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MLB.com |

DETROIT -- Royals right-hander Felipe Paulino is facing recovery from another surgery, this time to his throwing shoulder.

Paulino spent all of this season trying to make it back from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, but was hampered by back stiffness and then shoulder problems. Last Tuesday in New Orleans, Paulino underwent suprascapular nerve decompression from Dr. Felix Savoie.

The only pitching that Paulino did this year was seven games during Minor League injury rehabilitation assignments. He had Tommy John surgery on July 3, 2012, and the Royals hoped Paulino would return shortly after left-hander Danny Duffy, who had the same surgery. But Paulino kept having setbacks.

Paulino was obtained from Colorado for cash on May 26, 2011, and in two seasons with the Royals, he was 7-7 with a 3.55 ERA in 28 games (27 starts) and 158 strikeouts in 162 1/3 innings.

He is expected to be ready for Spring Training, according to head athletic trainer Nick Kenney.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.